Sunday, July 8, 2012

Ben Johnson came to the New York Mets along with Jon Adkins when they were traded from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Heath Bell and Royce Ring on November 15, 2006. "Ben Johnson is a versatile outfielder who can play all three spots, has speed and shown some power," said Mets general manager Omar Minaya. "He is just 25-years-old and we feel he has yet to reach his potential."

The outfielder began the 2007 season at Triple-A New Orleans, but was summoned to New York when Shawn Green suffered a chip fracture in his right foot. Ben joined the club on the road in Los Angeles. Waiting to make his Mets debut as a defensive replacement in right field facing the Giants back at Shea Stadium. He was hitless in two at-bats during New York's 5-4 victory over San Francisco on May 29th.

Johnson would appear in a total of nine games for the Mets before he was returned to New Orleans on June 11th. Ben was sent to the Zephyrs once Shawn Green was reactivated. During his time in New York he recorded five hits in 27 at-bats, including a double and RBI, for a .185 batting average.

While playing with New Orleans, Ben suffered a broken ankle attempting to slide into second base. "The worst injury that I had sustained up to that point was a broken hand," said Johnson. "This was by far the worst I had ever been injured." The fracture required surgery on August 6th. His recovery prohibited any return to the roster in 2007, and lingered as he attempted to make the team in spring training the next year. He was officially released on May 5, 2008. Team officials left Johnson an invitation to return to the organization if his condition ever improved.

Ben continued an attempt to return to baseball. He was signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers in 2010. Unable to reach the major leagues, Johnson became the assistant coach for the Arizona Centennials of the Freedom Professional Baseball League in 2012.

Ben Johnson signed his card in the set for my friend Dana Dominion before a Arizona Centennials game in June 2012.

PROJECT STATUS

Current Count of 712 of 791 players.

90.0% Complete

( 7 -Special Moment cards)

Project started in October 2008.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The New York Mets and all their fans bid farewell to a major part of their history at the close of the 2008 baseball season. Shea Stadium had been our summer home for 45 years. So many memories were built there by the 790 players that appeared in a game for the Mets during that time. In celebration of that I created a set of handmade cards featuring each one of these men. My design was done in such a way as to allow an autograph to be included. I am now in the process of having each one signed by those players. This blog will feature the cards as I get them completed. I hope you enjoy following my progress and reliving the careers of these great men that will always be our Mets.

ABOUT ME

I am a lifelong New York Mets fan that grew up in the midwest. I have followed the club and it's rich array of characters throughout the years. Perhaps the most special of which are the "one game" appearances. These men each have a terrific story and honor the legacy of the great Archibald "Moonlight" Graham.
As an autograph collector of the Mets team I will be posting my successes here as well. The focus of my collection is to add a signed baseball card for each man to appear in a game for the Mets. I will be posting examples of these here.